Effects of various hygiene procedures on the surface characteristics of titanium abutments.

The use of cleaning instruments on titanium implants may cause undesired surface alterations. In a qualitative and quantitative assessment of these alterations, 5 titanium implant abutments were treated with a steel curet, a prototype pure titanium curet, an air abrasive polishing system, and an ultrasonic system. Custom-made polymer templates, used to secure the curet to a vertical guide bar and a spring scale to maintain a constant instrument pressure, guaranteed a standardized procedure and reproducible results. The ultrasonic and the air abrasive polishing method were also standardized. Evaluation by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed surface alterations for all instruments and…